Probiotics

Probiotic supplements support health and wellbeing by providing essential yeast and bacteria that maintain and improve gastrointestinal health, digestive health, and immune functions. Hippocrates said, “All disease begins in the gut.” With the benefits of probiotics, health researchers are starting to appreciate just how right he was. For complete digestive health, full nutrient absorption, and a strong immune system, choose from the best probiotic supplements to help prevent, treat, and heal disease.

What are probiotics?
Probiotics are tiny organisms, such as bacteria, yeast, and candida, that maintain and improve good health. Probiotics can be found in foods and supplements. Yogurt, kefir, pickles, kimchi, sauerkraut, kombucha, and cheeses like Gouda, cheddar, and Swiss, contain healthy bacteria cultures that support gut health. Not everyone has the time or the ability to ensure they eat a probiotic-rich diet. Without the benefits of probiotics, there is a considerable risk of developing disease, sickness, and other threats to your health and wellbeing.

Probiotics & Your Microbiome
Probiotics are all about your microbiome. The human microbiome is made up of trillions of microbes living inside your body. Microbes are tiny single-cell organisms that help us breathe, eat, and function. A biome is a ‘culture’ or ‘environment,’ a complex community of distinct organism. If we put microbe and biome together, we get microbiome – trillions of microbes found in the mouth, skin, gut, and other parts of the body. Your microbiome works to support bodily functions. Health researchers are beginning to understand the connection between the composition of the human microbiome and the overall health of the human body.

What are the benefits of probiotics?
The benefits of probiotics are for the health and strength of your microbiome. A healthy microbiome is essential for your overall heath. This is where probiotic supplements come in, as they develop a healthy microbiome environment that helps prevent and treat stomach disease and maintain healthy bile metabolism. The benefits of probiotics don’t end there. Like Hippocrates said, “All disease begins in the gut,” but that could also be said for immune health, digestive health, and overall health and wellbeing. As vitamins, minerals, and other substances travel through your system, a well-functioning gastrointestinal tract is needed to properly absorb all necessary nutrients and maintain optimal health.

Probiotics & Your Gastrointestinal Tract
The human gastrointestinal tract is a system of organs that consumes, digests, and absorbs nutrients. It consists of the stomach (gut), small intestine, and large intestine, and involves everything between the mouth and anus. Microflora (bacteria) are found throughout the entire gastrointestinal system. The benefits of probiotics promote a healthy bacterial environment that allows the gastrointestinal tract to properly perform its responsibilities. Recent studies have shown that microorganism treatment with probiotic supplements are an effective remedy for gastrointestinal disorders such as antibiotic-associated diarrhea, infectious bacterial and viral diarrhea, immunodeficiency disorder, inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and lactose intolerance. Some of the best probiotic supplements have also been shown to improve intestinal health by stimulating the immune system, supporting nutrient absorption, and slowing the invasion and production of antimicrobial substances. An estimated 58 million Americans suffer some kind of irritable bowel syndrome that causes cramps, bloating, and diarrhea. Although the underlying causes of irritable bowel syndrome are not well understood, there is positive evidence that shows that probiotics can help ease symptoms.

Gut Health & Stomach Disease
Diarrhea is a major cause of gut discomfort. Studies have shown that probiotics are an effective treatment for infectious diarrhea, particularly in children. If children suffering from infectious diarrhea are given proper probiotic treatment, it can shorten the length of the illness by 24 to 30 hours, which is significant. Another form of diarrhea is antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Antibiotics are powerful drugs that target bacteria in general, and they can often disrupt a healthy microbe environment. The best probiotic supplements taken before antibiotics are administered can help prevent antibiotic-associated diarrhea.

Children & Probiotics
Eczema, an allergic skin reaction, affects many infants, children, and some adults. Probiotics have been shown to effectively treat and help prevent eczema related to cow’s milk. The benefits of probiotics for enhancing the body’s immune functions protect children from illnesses such as infections diarrhea, colds, and other infections. Studies have shown that children who consume probiotic-containing yogurt are nearly 20% less likely to be infected with many of the most common infections that affect children. Probiotics can be especially beneficial for children suffering from a number of diarrhea-related health problems. Children born to mothers with bad gut flora, or infants that aren’t breast fed, are at a higher risk of developing unhealthy gut bacteria themselves. Some researchers believe that early differences in gut flora can predict a person’s ability to manage their weight in the future.

Benefits of Probiotics for Weight Loss
Recent studies have demonstrated a relationship between bad microflora environments in the gut and weight gain. Changes in gut bacteria that dislodge the balance between probiotic (healthy) bacteria and bad bacteria can increase the rate at which fatty acids and carbohydrates are absorbed, which also increases the storage of these calories as fat. This means that, depending on the health of the microflora (bacteria) in the gut, a person can eat the same amount of food as their friend but gain more weight in the form of fat. Modern lifestyles add to this problem by encouraging the development of unhealthy microflora environments in the gut. Contributing factors include: antibiotics and medications such as birth control or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, diets high in refined carbohydrates, processed foods and sugars, diets low in fermentable fibers, dietary toxins like wheat and industrial seed oils, chronic stress, and chronic infections. Not surprisingly, the obesity epidemic has coincided with a significant disruption in gut flora throughout society brought about by these contributing factors. The best probiotic supplements can rebalance the bacterial environment in your gut, helping you regain control of your weight.

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